Olivier Thuillard

"My name is Olivier and I was born in 1965, in Switzerland. When I was a child, I met a hat maker and over time he asked me to help him cut fabrics. I became passionate about the way hats were made, and I started practicing and designing traditional hats. This has been a project with many challenges. When I immigrated to Costa Rica at the age of 40, I didn't know how to speak Spanish. So, I decided to take classes and learn the language. I met many people who encouraged me to sell my hats in Costa Rica.

"Seeing the fauna and flora of Costa Rica inspires me to create and love this country every day. The freedom and diversity to create hats is something that I truly enjoy. I draw inspiration from the hats worn by horseback riders because they are large and unique. Each hat is made with love and has its own uniqueness."